Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-03-17
when She comes to the Window

Win MIS-. dale" SAID falkner bitterly, you
care little
@My dear Ned said Lee, @the fact that
Mrs. Hale has husband and knows that she
can't marry me puts us on equal terms
Nothing that she could learn about me here
after would make a Irritation with me any
less wrong than it would be now, or make
her seem more victim. Can you say the
same of yourself and that Puritan girl.~
"But you did not advise me TO Keep aloof
from her; ON the contrary, YOU
u thought you might make the best of the
situation and pay her some attention, because
you could not 60 any further"
"You thought was utterly heartless and
selfish, like
sNed!n
Falkner walked rapidly to the fireplace and
returned.
Forgive me, George-Im fool-and an
ungrateful one"
Lee did not reply at once, although be took
and retained the hand Falkner had impul-
sively extended. Promise me-" he said
slowly, after pause, "that you win say moth
ing yet to either of these women. ask it for
your own sake and this girls, not for mine.
If, on the contrary, you are tempted to do SO
from any Quixotic idea of honor, remember
that you will only precipitate something that
viii oblige you, from that same sense of
honor, to separate from the girl forever"
II don't understand"
Enough said he, with quick return of
his old reckless gayety. "Shoot-off- his-mouth,
the beardless boy chief of the Sierras, has
spokenl Let the pale face with the black
mustache ponder and beware how he talks
hereafter to the Ripping Cochituate Woterl
Cor
Nevertheless, as soon as the door had closed
upon FalEsner, Lees smile vanished With
his colorless face turned to the fading light ct
the window, the hollows in his temples and
the lines in the corners of his eyes seemed to
have grown more profound. He remained
motionless and absorbed in thought SO deep
that the light rustic of a skirt, that would at
other times have thrilled his sensitive ear,
passed unheeded. AT last, throwing off his
reverie with the full and unrestrained sigh of
a man who believes himself alone, he was
cedA llSN ny blc oOlb AduE9u VI ALIS. l1dle. WHO
had entered the room unperceived.
"Dear me! How portentous! Really, l
almost feel as if 1 were interrupting tete-a-
tete between yourself and some old fame l
haven't heard anything SO old-fashioned and
conservative as that sigh since have been in
California. l thought you never had any
Past out here?'
Fortunately his face was between her and
the light, and the unmistakable expression Of
annoyance and impatience which passed over
it was spared her. There was, however still
enough dissonance in his manner to affect
her quick feminine sense, and when she drew
nearer to him it was with certain maiden
like timidity.
"You are not worse, Mr.. Lee. l hopeG
You have not over exerted yourselfp
"There's little chance of that with one leg
If not in the grave at least mummifed
new to him.
"Shall | loosen themi Perhaps they are
too tight. There is nothing SO irritating to
one as the sensation of being tightly boundn
The light touch Of her hand upon the rug
that covered his kness. the thoughtful ten
derness of the blue veined lids, and the deli
cate atmosphere that seemed to Surround her
like perfume cleared his face of its shadow
and brought back the reckless fire into his
blue eyes,
Il suppose I'm intolerant of all bonds" he
said, looking at her intently, lin others as
well as mysefr'
Whether or not she detected any double
meaning in his words she was obliged to ac-
cept the challenge of his direct gaze and,
raising her eyes to his, drew back little
from him with slight increase of color.
II was afraid you had heard bad news just
now"
"What would you call bad news?' asked
Lee, clasping his hands behind his head and
leaning back on the sofa, but without with
drawing his eyes from her face.
"Oh, any news that would interrupt your
convalescence Oh break up our little family
party" said Mrs Hale. you have been
getting on so well that really it would seem
cruel to have anything interfere with our
life of forgetting and being forgotten But
she added with apprehensive quicknesS, has
anything happened! Is there really any
news from--from the trails! Yesterday Mr..
Falkner said the snow had recommended i'll
the pass. Has he seen anything, noticed any
thing different"
She looked SO very pretty, with the rare,
genuine and youthful excitement that trans
figured her wearied and wearying regularity
of feature, that Lee contented himself with
drinking in her prettiness as he would have
inhaled the perfume of some flower.
why do you look at me SO, Mr.. Leep she
asked, with slight smile. ~ believe some
thing has happened. Mr.. Falkner has
brought you some intelligence"
HE has certainly found out something
did not foresee."
"And that troubles your
SIT does"
SIS it a secret"
"No.n
''Then suppose you will tell it to me at
dinner" she said, with little tone of relief.
Il am afraid if tell it at all must tell it
now" he said, glancing at the door.
''You must do as you think best" she said,
coldly, ''as it seems to be secret after all.
She hesitated. kate is dressing, and will
not be down in some time"
$50 much the better. For I am afraid that
Ned has made poor return to your hospi-
tally by falling in love with her,"
"Impossible He has known her for
scarcely week"
II am afraid we won't agree as to the
length of time necessary to appreciate and
love woman. / think it can be done in
seven days and four hours, the exact time we
have been here"
''Yes; but as Kate was not in when you
arrived, and did not come until later, you |
must take off at least one hour" said Mrs |
Hale gayly.
"Ned can. I shall not abate a second
"But are you not mistaken in his feel |
ingsp she continued hurriedly. "He GER
tainly has not said anything to her."